Verizon offers kids a chance to create apps and win $20K for their school

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge is a nationwide contest for middle- and high-school-aged students that challenges them to develop concepts for mobile apps that solve a problem in their community.

It's a unique learning program that teaches collaboration, critical thinking, problem solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as STEM skills and coding. Its aim is to equip students with skills needed to succeed in the jobs of the future, delivering to students the promise of a brighter future.

The Verizon Innovative App Challenge turns students' love for mobile devices into a unique hands-on learning experience. Kids gain important skills like teamwork, critical thinking and entrepreneurship as they develop app ideas for a chance to win $20,000 for their school or after-school program. Plus, winning teams will work with MIT experts to bring their app ideas to life — no coding experience required!

The challenge is open to middle- and high-school-aged students in schools and non-profit programs. You can register with your school (public, private or parochial) or any non-profit group or club that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.